Apparatus for propelling fluids.



I. H. SPENCER.

APPARATUS FOR PROPBLLING FLUIDS.

APPLICATION IILBD AUG.1Z, 1912.

1,061 ,205. Patented May 6, 1913.

2 SHEETBSHEBT 1. [2 1.

WITNESSES: [.VVENTOR.

I. H. SPENCER.

APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING FLUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1912.

1,061,205. Patented May 6, 1913.

2 SEEBTS-SHEET 2.

lV/TNESSLS: INVENTOR.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA H, SPENCER, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPENCER TURBINE CLEANER COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION .OF

CONNECTICUT.

APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING FLUIDS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRA H. Srnnonn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Vest Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a. new and Improved Apparatus for Propelling Fluids of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of devices above named, and an object of my invention, among others, is to provide a device of this class that while possessing self-balancing characteristics, or characteristics by which a running balance is preserved, shall at the same time be firm and stable in its construction.

One form of device embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partially in section, of an apparatus more especially adapted for propelling air, with parts broken away to show construction, and illustrating characteristic features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in crosswise section on a plane denoted by dotted line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the construction and operation of apparatus embodying parts rotating at high speed, and especially those in which these rotating parts have considerable surface area located laterally to the axis of rotation, adifficulty has been encountered in preserving a running balance, as it is frequently found that such apparatus provided with a static balance will, owing to various eonditions of operation, be thrown out of balance when rotated at high speeds. This is especially true of steam turbines, dynamos, air turbines and the like, and more especially with respect to air turbines, as such a device when constructed to run in equilibrium in the open air will be frequently found to be unbalanced when placed in a casing, for the reason that the action of the air on the fans is different when inclosed than when running in the open air, and While my invention is susceptible of embodiment in any of the various devices in which the faults above mentioned may occur, I have selected an air turbine for the purpose of illustrating and describing my invention herein.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 12, 1912.

Patented May 6,1913.

Serial No. 714,513.

In the operation of air turbines or fans, and especially when these are inclosed within a. casing, the effects of the air currents are such as to create various conditions with re spect to the forces acting upon the disks, with the effect that a disk which may be perfectly balanced at one speed will be thrown out of balance at another speed, and in the ease of several disks mounted upon a shaft, the conditions which will affect one disk at a certain point in one way will affect another disk at the same point in a different way. These faults are especially noticeable when parts intended to be rotated at high speed are attaining such speed, as frequently during such time, critical speeds occur causing objectionable vibration which frequently excessively dangerous.

The device illustrated herein obviates the difficulties with respect to the balance of the rotating parts at all times whether running at high or low speeds, and at the same time the parts are sutliciently rigid to be firm and stable. Such a device includes a casing 53 supported on a base (i and having a top plate 7, the base and top plate being connected as by rods 8. A motor 9 may be supported on the top plate 7 as a means for driving the apparatus. A projection 10 in which the inlet opening is located extends from the top of the shell or casing 5 and an exhaust opening may be located in the projection 11 near the bottom of the shell or casing. All of the parts thus far described may be of any suitable form and construction and further detailed description is therefore deemed unnecessary.

A shaft 12 extends through the casing longitudinally thereof, this shaft being suitably connected with the motor 9 and arranged in any suitable manner as to its bearing. This shaft will be sutticiently rigid to afford a firm support for the rotating parts, including fan hubs 13 securely fastened to the shaft and rigidly constructed and fan disks l-il securely fastened to the fan hubs. In order that these disks may accommodate themselves to various conditions that may exist within the casing and may be at all. times so positioned with respect to the shaft 12 as to preserve a perfect running balance the disks are made flexible so that they will yield to any force which would tend to throw the rotating parts out ofbal- I ance, such yielding function bein illus- -.thedisk 14 to the trated to an exaggerated extent per laps in dotted outline in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Blades 15 are secured to the disks 14 in any suitable manner, these blades being of such construction that the current of an will be forced radially outward along the surface of eriphery thereof and whence the air trave s inwardly toward the center passing through the openings16 in diaphragms 17. l 1

In order that the flexibility of the struc ture may be increased the heels 18 of the to create a .force tending to. displace the .difiiculties hereinbefore referred to,

blades are located at some distancevfrom the periphery of'the fan hubs 13 to ermit a yielding action at this point, and efiectors 19 may also be-employed to direct currents toward the openings .16.

It will thus be seen that if conditions as to the air currents or other causes shall exist disks and thus create unbalanced conditions as to the rotating parts, the disks will flex under such force andthus preserve the balance of the rotating parts and avoid tge t e structurebeing infact a self-balancing structure.

The best commercial practice at the present time for balancing high speed rotating parts is in subjecting them to operation in a dynamic-balancing machine but this is not applicable to a turbine blower, owing to the varying conditions of air currents, as hereinbefore set out, but, my inven-' tion provides means for readily and effectually overcoming thediiiiculties not only in the use of inclosed rotating parts, but in the the air shaft, said disks having means to support a blade radially thereon. 1 2.' A casin a rotatable shaft of rigid material locate within the case, a disk of flexistructed'to fiex'in a direction longitudinally thereof; and blades secured to sald disk.

: 3. A casing, a shaft of rigid material located within the casing, means for rotating the shaft, a disk of flexible material firmly in a direction longitudinally of the shaft, and blades secured to the face of the dis and extending radially thereof. 4. A casing, a shaft of rigid material located within the casing, means for rotating the shaft, a series of disks of flexible material firmly secured to the shaft and constructed to flex in a direction longitudinally thereof, and blades secured to the faces of said. disks.

, IRA-H. SPENCER.

- Witnesses:

ARTHUR B. JENKINS, MAYC. CARRO L.

flex in a direction longitudinally of the,

v ble material secured to said shaft and consecured to the shaft and constructed to flex 40 While I have shown and described herein 

